ALPINE, TX — Western New Mexico (3-4, 2-3) defeated Sul Ross State (2-5, 1-4) 48-41 on Saturday night in the Battle for the Golden Tumbleweed. Western New Mexico kept the trophy for the second year in a row, and the victory marked its first win in the state of Texas in 10 years. Western New Mexico scored 17 unanswered points in the first quarter and finished with 321 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Western New Mexico denied Sul Ross State from the goal line on the final sequence, closing out a game in which Sul Ross State finished with 501 total yards and 349 passing yards. Western New Mexico ran for 321 yards and four touchdowns, with
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) finishing with 167 yards and three scores, and
Zakkarii Black (Sacramento, CA/Charter Oak High School) added a 90-yard kickoff-return touchdown. Western New Mexico also went 9-for-18 on third down and scored on all five red-zone trips, while Sul Ross State was 3-for-13 on third down and 4-for-6 in the red zone.
In the first quarter, Western New Mexico scored on all three possessions, opening with a 10-play, 70-yard drive finished by
Jase Ashley's (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon High School) 26-yard touchdown pass to
Demarion Postell (Tolleson, AZ/Tolleson Union High School).
Troy Filo (Fallbrook, CA/Jserra Catholic High School) forced and recovered a fumble deep in Sul Ross State territory, and
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) scored on a 1-yard run before
Nathan Flores' (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) extra point made it 14-0. After the defense turned Sul Ross State over on downs at the Western New Mexico 6,
Karsten Dombrovski (Peoria, AZ/Liberty High School) closed a 77-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead at the end of the quarter.
After Sul Ross State's opening touchdown in the second quarter, Western New Mexico answered with a 36-yard drive, as
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) scored from 11 yards out and
Nathan Flores' (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) extra point made it 24-7. After Sul Ross State later cut the margin to 24-14,
Jase Ashley (Phoenix, AZ/Horizon High School) led a 58-yard drive that included a fourth-and-4 completion to Nofoa-Masoe at the SRSU29. Flores finished the half with a 28-yard field goal as time expired, sending Western New Mexico into halftime ahead 27-14.
Western New Mexico answered Sul Ross State's late touchdown immediately, as Black returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and
Nathan Flores (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) added the PAT for a 41-27 score with 17 seconds left in the third quarter. Earlier,
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) broke a 64-yard touchdown run on third-and-1 to finish a three-play, 73-yard drive that pushed Western New Mexico ahead 34-20. Sul Ross State reached the Western New Mexico 14 before the quarter ended, but Western New Mexico finished the third ahead 41-27.
An early Sul Ross State touchdown in the fourth quarter was followed by a 10-play, 69-yard Western New Mexico drive, with Western New Mexico converting a fourth-and-1 and two third downs before Ashley scored on a 14-yard run and
Nathan Flores' (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva High School) kick made it 48-34 with 8:41 left. After Sul Ross State cut the margin to 48-41, Western New Mexico put together a nine-play drive from its 5 before punting, then kept Sul Ross State out of the end zone on the final possession as the game ended at the Western New Mexico 1. The fourth-quarter stop finished off Western New Mexico's 48-41 win.
Devon Nofoa-Masoe (Tacoma, WA/Lakes High School) rushed 23 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns and added a 5-yard reception. Ashley completed 10 of 21 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown, and added 77 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries.
Demarion Postell (Tolleson, AZ/Tolleson Union High School) caught three passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Filo recorded seven tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Will Howell completed 25 of 40 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 99 yards and two scores. Kyree Payton rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught three passes for 80 yards and another score. Ronald Bell recorded seven receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Emmanuel Osom led the defense with 12 total tackles.
Western New Mexico is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Sul Ross State is 2-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Up next, the Western New Mexico football team travels to Canyon, Texas, to face West Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit
www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).
